Martin Hogan

NSS: "We seek... peaceful commercial relations with the nations of the world without imposing on them democratic or other social change..." www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
"The US state department is set to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities across Europe..." www.ft.com/content/f869...

'Sandpipers' by Julia Berman.

“It’s a good thing Congress isn’t alive to see this.”

— unknown author

We must unconstitutionally impose more taxes on Americans because the threat of illegal aggression against a heretofore American ally hasn't worked out as smoothly as we imagined.

Former Nato chief attacks Trump’s ‘gangster’ talk on Greenland Anders Fogh Rasmussen says US president is using island as a ‘weapon of mass distraction’ from real threats such as Russia’s war in Ukraine

Anders Fogh Rasmussen says it like it is – and puts forward proposal that any reasonable person in NATO should be agreeable to.

(Gift link.)

giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Former Nato chief attacks Trump’s ‘gangster’ talk on Greenland

That was (roughly) my last book of 2025. I second your recommendation.

The Maga war on European democracy America’s national security strategy projects internal fears abroad

Spot on.

Martin Wolf’s clear-eyed, sharp perspective is required reading in my view – and provides hard facts if they are needed in a debate.

giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

The Maga war on European democracy (gift link)

Terrible things are happening outside. At any time of night and day, poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes ... Families are torn apart; men, women and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared. Women return from shopping to find their houses sealed, their families gone. Anne Frank - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1943

#lestweforget

If you read one thing today, it should be this brilliant take by Ed Lucas.

Incisive. Every single word.

Title: “New Balance of Power”. A caricature of Xi, Kim, Putin, and Trump all sitting on the same end of a seesaw. No one sitting on other end. Kim to Putin: “You’re supposed to be at the other end.”

Credit: Globe and Mail

Russia is Losing – Time for Putin's 2026 Hybrid Escalation 2025 offered the most generous potential off-ramp for Vladimir Putin. He rejected it.

Facing an economic spiral and depleted conventional forces, Vladimir Putin is entering a window of maximum danger. We must prepare not for a resurgent Russia but for a desperate one: 2026 will be the year of hybrid escalation.
www.rusi.org/explore-our-...

Trump’s war on Europe American foreign policy now aims to help rightwing nationalists into power across the continent

“When I re-read Kennedy’s words, I imagined a spoof Trump version: “We shall exact any sum, impose any burden, inflict any hardship, oppose any friend and befriend any foe to assure the wealth and power of me, my family and friends.”

Important piece.

giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... (gift link)

I miss those days.

The Wolf-Krugman Exchange: America vs. the world | The Economics Show Why a new US security strategy should worry Europe – and delight Beijing

This is an outstanding, clear-eyed conversation.

shows.acast.com/the-economic...

Agreed. As of today, I’m done with all FIFA soccer.

I had already ignored the last two world cups in ruSSia and Qatar.

Excellent, thanks!

Great rule of thumb: When a headline asks a yes-no question – rather than making a statement – the author already knows that the answer is “no”.

Excellent piece.

Quote for today's negotiations:

"The aggressor is always peace-loving; he would prefer to take over our country unopposed."

Carl von Clausewitz in "On War," 1816-1830

Russia is invading Ukraine. It is important that Ukraine pay the price. Preferably to us directly.

by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff

Putin's plan to end the war in Ukraine.

Cartoon by Michael de Adder

Why funding Ukraine is a giant opportunity for Europe The bill will be huge. It is also a historic bargain

“Europe should take heart and recognise its own strength. Its military budget is already four times larger than Russia’s; its economy is ten times larger. Far from shying away from a financial contest with the Kremlin, Europe should embrace it—and win the war. “

(gift)

“One side is an occupying force trying to subjugate another country and its people. The other is fighting for its freedom. These are fundamentally different causes.”

No, Russian soldiers in Ukraine are not being forced to fight against their will The misconception that Russian soldiers are forced to fight against their will in Ukraine is one that reaches even into the highest echelons of the U.S. government. Earlier this year, U.S. President ...

“The moral equivalence of these two armies is impossible. Russia’s side is completely immoral, and the vast majority of its soldiers went to war voluntarily — driven by financial and psychological interests, not by coercion."

Editorial: President Trump, don't fall for Putin's bullsh*t — again We've been here before. Multiple times. Not even that long ago. President Donald Trump has appeared to be on the verge of taking a decisive step that could genuinely put pressure on Russia to make it...

kyivindependent.com/editorial-pl...

Russland will die Menschen in Kyjiw und der gesamten Ukraine in Dunkelheit und Kälte bomben. Nicht zusehen und abwarten sondern Taurus liefern, Schattenflotte stoppen, Visa für Russen canceln, jetzt!

BGM-109G Gryphon - Wikipedia

It is the kind of tool that Ukraine needs. Im hoping we can transfer enough technology and capital so that Ukraine can develop its own cruise missile – quickly.
BTW, a successful land-launched version was deployed but was withdrawn and destroyed in the 80s already: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BGM-109...

Medals for soldiers who shot unarmed women and children on their own land? No wonder you like Russia so much